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Parents' Guide to

City of Angels

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Glossy romance as an angel falls for a surgeon.

Movie PG-13 1998 114 minutes
City of Angels Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 1 parent review

littleone522
littleone522 Parent of 12-year-old
February 1, 2011
age 13+

Is the love scene to much for your kids?

My concern for kids watching this movie is in one steamy love scene. Although no nudity can be seen except for bare legs and bare backs, alot of heavy breathing and kissing take place. The conversation the two characters have while being intimate is also a concern as the one character asks how it feels and he describes it as being warm and then the other character states that they fit together. A mans bare bottom can be seen in another scene while he is skinny dipping. Also two characters talk about a womens chest being "flat-chested" and "you don't need more then a handful". People are also seen smoking in this movie, this may be a concern for some parents especially when the characters are angels. The language in this movie consists of two uses of the word "a**" (as in butt) and eight uses of the word "sh*t". Parents also need to know that this movie deals with death and the after life and my make kids realize that death is a part of life. The moral of this movie is coping with the loss of a loved one. Whice I do think is an important message, however because of the love scene and the language, I Don't recommend this movie be viewed by children under the age of 13.
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What's the Story?

In CITY OF ANGELS, Angels appear to hold our hands as we die. Humans cannot see them, but Maggie (Meg Ryan), a surgeon fighting desperately to save a patient, feels the presence of the angel Seth (Nicolas Cage), and it shakes her. It shakes him, too. Seth begins to wish that he could trade his existence as an angel for the chance to partake in earthly pleasures like smell, and touch, and love. He meets one of Maggie's patients, a former angel (played by NYPD Blue star Dennis Franz) and learns that even angels have the free will to choose their destinies.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (3 ):

The German film Wings of Desire, Wim Wenders' dreamlike meditation on the angels among us, has been Hollywoodized into a dreamlike but glossy romance. Cage is especially touching, his longing for Maggie coming from some deep place in his soul. And the movie has some good issues to raise about choices and destiny and intimacy and the importance of smelling the roses. But it has awkward construction and a maudlin conclusion.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why Maggie's relationship with her colleague is so unsatisfying for her, and why Seth's role is so unsatisfying for him.

Movie Details

  • In theaters: April 10, 1998
  • On DVD or streaming: September 29, 1998
  • Cast: Andre Braugher , Meg Ryan , Nicolas Cage
  • Director: Brad Silberling
  • Inclusion Information: Black actors, Female actors
  • Studio: Warner Bros.
  • Genre: Drama
  • Run time: 114 minutes
  • MPAA rating: PG-13
  • MPAA explanation: sexuality including language, and some nudity
  • Last updated: June 2, 2023

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